Gas tank lock



Oct. 23, 1951 L. P. JONES ETAL GAS TANK LOCK Filed June 6, 1949 I n uci/lors Luc/'lle l. Jones Robert W. -Jones ma. By I y a Attorneys Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT VOFFICE GAS TANK LOCK Lucille P. Jones and Robert W. Jones, Flint, Mich.

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a gasoline tank locking device of the type wherein the usual applicable and removable closing cap is fastened in a closed position by a remote controlled latchbolt, the point of operation and control being on thev usual instrument .panel within convenient reach of the driver.

The object of the invention is to provide locking or latching means in the form of what may be classified as an attachment, that is, a structure which may be applied to and used in conjunction with the existing or stock type cap closed tank ller pipe.

In carrying out the principles of the invention, we provide a simple, practical and economical construction which, we believe, is aptly suited for the purposes intended and desirable in that it is necessary to release the latch from the instrument board before the attendant may remove the cap, and necessary to again release the latch in order that the cap may be put back, whereby to make sure that the cap may not be accidentally left oi, as is often the case, by station attendants.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a filler neck, closing cap, and latching device constructed in accordance with our invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the essential parts on an enlarged scale with said parts in elevation and section.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, the numeral 5 designates a suitable or conventional type filler pipe or neck for an automobile gasoline storage tank. The numeral 6 designates a readily applicable, removable and turnable type cap. This is also conventional except that, in accordance with our invention, We provide it with a depending sleeve I which telescopes down into the neck and which is provided with a keeper slot or opening 8, the same being in registration with a corresponding hole 9 which is punched in the filler neck 5. The improved latching device is characterized primarily by an open-ended cylinder I0 having its end portions externally screw-threaded as at II and I2, respectively. The end II is screwed into a centrallyapertured cap I3 which is welded at I4 to the neck 5. A similar cap I5 is screwed on the end I2. The cap I 5 carries a Bowden wire I6 which is made up of a iiexible casing I'I and a push-pull wire I8 in the'casing. Fitted in the cylinder is a piston-like plunger I9 having a reduced end portion 20 which constitutes a latchbolt and which projects through the openings 8 and 9, thus serving to latch the adapter sleeve 'I in place. sion 2I at the opposite end and said extension and the plunger proper have socket means 22. bored therein to accommodate the stated pushpull wire I8. Wire I8 is held in place by set screw 23, The numeral 24 designates a coiled spring which surrounds the extension 2I and which bears, at one end, against the plunger I9 and at the opposite end against the cap I5. y The opposite or right-hand portion of the Bowden wire is connected to a fitting 25 which is fastened in a nut 26 on the instrument panel or board 21. The wire projects through and beyond the instrument panel, where it is provided with a iinger knob or gripper 28.

Under normal conditions, the latch bolt 20 projects through apertures 9 and 8, and in so doing fastens sleeve I to the filler pipe or neck 5. Consequently, the cap 6 which carries the sleeve is normally locked in closed position. When pulling up to a supply pump at a gasoline lling station, before the attendant may remove the cap G, it is necessary for the occupant of the car to catch hold of knob 28 and to pull it in a direction toward himself. This, obviously, unlatches the cap and permits its removal. While the tank is being lled, the operator may let go of the knob. When, however, the cap is to be replaced by the attendant, it is necessary for the driver or operator to again retract the latch bolt and to let it go after the cap has been completely replaced. This insures that the driver of the car has supervisory control, remote, as it were, over the steps involving detaching the cap and again replacing it and locking it in position.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A latching attachment for the ller neck of The plunger has a reduced exten` J a gasoline storage tank comprising an open ended cylinder having externally screw-threaded end portions, a cylindrical plunger slidably mounted in said cylinder and having reduced ends, one end of said plunger constituting a latch bolt, the opposite end of said plunger having a* socket therein, a set screw in said plunger communieating at right angles with said socket, an internally screw threaded cap removably fitted on one end. of said cylinder and having an aperture therein, said latch bolt projecting through said aperture, a second cap of the same design as said rst-named cap having an internal screw thread and being centrally apertured, said second-named cap being removably tted on the opposite end of said cylinder, a coiled spring insaid cylinder surrounding the last-named end. of said plunger, said spring being held in place by said plunger and said last-named cap, and a Bowden Wire including a casing fitted into the aperture in said second-named cap and a wire slidable in said casing, one end of said Wire fittingr telescopically and removab`yintothe socket in said. plunger and held in place by said set screw.

21 A latching attachment for the ller neck oi a4 gasoline storage tank comprising an open ended cylinder having externally screw-threaded end portions',`a cylindrical plunger slidably mounted` in said` cylinder, said plunger having reduced ends, one of said ends of the plunger constituting a latch bolt, the opposite end of said plunger having a socket therein, a set screw in said plunger communicating at right angles with said socket, an internally screw-threaded cap removably iitted on one end of said cylinder and having a centrally located aperture therein, said latch bolt being in alignment with and projectable through said aperture,` acoiled spring in said cylinder surrounding the last named end of the plunger, and a second internally screwthreaded cap removably fitted on the other end of said cylinder, said last recited cap having a centrally located aperture, the socket in the lastnamed end of the plunger being in alignment with the last recited aperture.

LUCILLE P. JONES.

ROBERT W. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this, patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 1,788,473 Smith Jan. 13, 1931. 1,958,019 Reasoner I K May 8, 1934- 2,028,515 McClana-han Jan. 21, 1936 2,084,045 Olsen i June 15, 1937' 2,146,968 Macagno Feb. 14,1939y 

